The day has finally arrived! Wooooohooooo! Let’s get into the Scriptures, Girls! This is our official launch where you will officially register as participants in our summer Bible study but here’s the important part: YOU WILL SIGN IN AFTER YOU AND YOUR GROUP VIEW THIS VIDEO AND HAVE YOUR DISCUSSION TIME. (If you’re going solo, you’ll view it by yourself, of course, and answer the questions succinctly in your comment as your way of discussing the subject matter.)
Please read the following instructions carefully:
If you are participating in a small group (even on line), choose a name for it in your first gathering. It does not need to be clever although you’re welcome to do it that way. It can be as simple as “Greensboro Summer Siestas.” Mine will be “The LPM Village” because I’ll be going through it with my in-house staff and we call our merry band of sisters the Village. You will use your group name every time you leave a comment on Bible study day.
After watching the video and participating in the discussion time with your small group, appoint ONE representative from your group to sign in through a comment to this post. You’re welcome to appoint a different representative each week that we meet. The main idea is to make sure only one person signs in for your group.
This is the way your group representative will sign in:
City, State; Name of group, Number in group. *A brief summary about your group time.
(*This might convey something interesting that came up in your time together or the question that motivated the most discussion. It’s wide open. Just give us a succinct report on your time in small group. Remember to keep them short and specific so that we can read as many as possible!)
Mine would look something like this:
Houston, Texas; The LPM Village, 12. Summary: We talked most about the challenges we have this summer and specific ways we each need God to “keep steady our steps.” (Then I’d give a couple of examples that came up in our discussion time. Get the idea?)
Sisters going solo: you will sign in individually and answer the questions very briefly in your comment. (You are welcome to limit your answers to the ones that resonate most to you.) If I were going solo, mine might look like this:
Houston, Texas; Beth Moore (you can just use your first name if you prefer). Questions 5 and 6 resonated most with me because…
NOW! You are good to go. Just watch the video and proceed according to the instructions I’ll give you within it. As you’ll see below, I will always put the instructions in print in case you’re unable to view the video or if, for any reason, it malfunctions. Keep in mind that you don’t need to read what follows unless you can’t watch the video.
Written instructions:
Today in small group time, read Psalm 119:129-135 together. If you have access to several translations, read it first in a formal translation – ESV, NAS, NKJ, NIV, etc – and, second, just for the richness of it, a modern translation like The Message or the New Living Translation. You know I love The NET Bible so that’s another option.
1. List every term the psalmist uses for God’s communication/revelation to man. (Example: V.129 ESV – “testimonies”)
2. Psalm 119:129 says, “Your testimonies are wonderful: therefore my soul keeps them.” Each of you (as time allows) share a specific way that you’ve come to know personally that God’s testimonies are “wonderful.” If you don’t have a newcomer to the Bible in your group, imagine that you do. Let your answer help explain to her why YOUR soul desires to keep God’s testimonies and why she should even consider it.
3. Psalm 119:132 says “Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is Your way with those who love Your name.” If you have placed your faith in God through Jesus Christ, you have demonstrated one titanic way of “loving His name.” Discuss the importance of trusting that God’s “way” is to deal with His children graciously. Talk about whether you tend to expect God to be gracious to you or indifferent or harsh and condemning. If you tend toward the latter, would you be willing this summer to seek God with the grateful expectation of His graciousness toward you.
4. Psalm 119:133a says, “Keep steady my steps according to Your promise.” What specific challenges are before you this summer that could cause you to really need God to “steady your steps”?
5. Psalm 119:133b says, “Let no iniquity get dominion over me.” THAT, Beloved, is a prayer that could have huge impact in our lives. If you are willing, share a particular tendency of your flesh that you’re really praying will not get the best of you this summer. (By all means, get personal as the Spirit leads but stop short of really graphic specifics. Give people the idea without the mental images.)
6. Psalm 119:134 says, “Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep Your precepts.” Look up several definitions of “oppression” and discuss the vital differences between oppression and authority. How can they be confused? Once we know for certain we’re not just resisting authority but we are genuinely experiencing oppression, realize that God’s will is to REDEEM us from it. Pray fervently for Him to do so. He is perfectly capable of redeeming us from oppression while redeeming the relationship.
7. According to Psalm 119:135, conclude by asking God with a full heart of faith to make His face shine upon you, His servant, this summer and to TEACH you vividly through the Book of Nehemiah.
8. Sometime today, write Psalm 119:129-135 on a note card and keep it as your prayer for our Siesta Summer Bible Study. (After the video was already made, it occurred to me that I should have suggested we all write this segment on the inside of the front cover of our Nehemiah workbooks so, if I caught you in time, do that instead of a note card. That way it will serve as a Scriptural dedication of sorts for our summer experience.)
Have Weeks 1 and 2 of your homework done by Tuesday, July 10th and we’ll have our next Mini-Session then and your group discussion.
I love you guys so much! Isn’t it fabulous to be back together again in God’s Word??
We’ll meet in two weeks! If you’re meeting over a meal, try to fix Lauri’s Beef Enchiladas on p.32 and Mom’s ginger snaps on p.33.
(Remember! Comments only after your group time!)
The Ladies of LynchVegas – 5 and a baby here from Lynchburg, Virginia! We met tonight for the first night and are so jazzed to get started!!
Tonight we talked about our summers and the different challenges we will each be encountering and how we need God to come in and shine truth down on these situations.
Thanks Beth – we love your studies!!
Washington DC, Amy: Going solo, but if you have someone in the DC area who is doing this I would love to make contact with her! Questions 5 and 7 resonated most with me because I’ve allowed myself to hold on to my iniquities and not forgive myself for past mistakes. I want to finally free myself of it and move forward; specifically in the areas of confidence and self-worth. Question 7 resonated because I want Him to make His face shine on me; exeperience Him like never before. I want it to change, rock, and shake my world! Sorry I’m late in joining but I got my book this weekend and I’m playing catch up – I dont’ think it will take long to catch up…I’m so excited! Looking forward to more with you, Mama Beth!
Frisco,TX, Seis Siestas, 6
#7 especially resonates with us as we are asking God to make his face shine upon us and teach us through this study. We are meeting online since there is one in Plano, 2 in Sherman, and 3 in Frisco.
I totally forgot to post the details of our group after our first group meeting. We all attend Mt. Juliet Covenant Fellowship Church of the Nazarene in Mtl. Juliet TN. We call ourselves the “Juliet’s”
There are ten of us, young and old, different stages of life. We pray for God’s wisdom and his truth to pour over our souls and to give us a hope for what He will do in our lives.
Signing on from south Florida, Sarasota County to be exact and actually some–I call it Paradise. Going solo. Nehemiah is a completely new study for me and it touches right where I live. I’m acquainted brokenness as well as the tender touch of our loving Lord. God’s “way” is to deal with His children graciously although I go through time that I wonder how is that possible? Then I hear that same sweet reminder… daughter it is for you. Hallelujah. I am so excited to continue with this amazing study. Thank you.
We are meeting at McDonald’s in Broken Arrow, OK so that the kids can play and we can study. Not too creative on our name: CLC Nehemiah Bible Study. There are 3 people in our group and a 4th who is joining our online discussion/FB group from Camden, Arkansas. We had a great time launching our study on July 11 (we are a little behind the other groups)! It was encouraging to find out that the group has a healthy view of God and His thoughts towards his children. Can’t wait to start our homework!
We are the HSC girls. There are 3 of us meeting. We are going to take turns at each others house. We are so excited to see how the Lord will work in our lives through this study. We had a great time sharing what he has done so far this summer. We also talked about the struggles that we are faced with and how we want to better walk with Christ.
Acworth, Ga; 2 ladies in group; We finally watched the first video yesterday. Our challenge this summer is trying to do a study with children. Each of us have 3 three year old girls and baby girls (6mths and 9mths)!! It was somewhat comical trying to pay attention to the video while holding a baby and popping popcorn for the 3 year olds…but we did it!
I am so late in registering for this but I didn’t want to go it alone and it took me awhile to get a partner! My 20-something daughter and I are doing this together. She lives in another city and we mostly see each other on special occasions such as birthdays and holidays. I am excited to go through this with her as I hope, (no, I know) we will both grow in spirit, hope, faith and love this summer. I can’t wait!!!
Memphis, TN; The Memphis 6 Shooters; 6 present; Summary: We really enjoyed are 1st meeting and are meeting again tonight. So excited to delve into the study!
Danielle, Nashville, TN. Questions 4 and 5 spoke most to me. I am two weeks from embarking on the new challenge of motherhood. We are having our first baby, a boy, in two weeks! I know I will be stretched to limits that I struggle to imagine and I pray that God gives me strength and wisdom in raising a godly son. The sins I struggle with are worry and insecurity. I constantly am trying to find worth in worldly things, rather than fully comprehending that my true worth lies in Jesus. I have to work on believing this everyday!
Bangor, MI; FBC Gals, 3; We had great discussion and talked about what some of our goals and obstacles are and are going to be for the summer.
There are 12 ladies in our study. We are using Yahoo Groups to meet. We have many different states in our group! We call ourselves Melissa Siesta Summer Bible study.
The one thing each lady has said is the fellowship and prayers for one another have blesses them so much as we journey through this study.
M. Waters
Voorhees, NJ & Christiansburg, VA; “Ol’ El Paso Childhood Siestas”; 2 (online)—We are two childhood friends that grew up together on a military base in El Paso, TX. We were reunited on Facebook a few years ago and have stayed in touch ever since. We are going through this study together, across the miles. We text/e-mail several times throughout the week and chat by phone once every two weeks. April is preparing herself to guide her teenage girls’ bible study group through it this fall. (sorry it took us so long to check in…hope it doesn’t mess up your “count”. ha!) Excited to be a part of Summer Siestas!
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; 6 of us ladies are meeting on eachothers patios this summer for the study. We just started it last night but it was so refreshing to have such good meaningful conversation about God and what’s going on in our lives. Question 4 was probably the hot topic for us as we all brought up things that we need God’s help with to steady our feet. So looking forward to journeying through this study with 5 of the sweetest girls I know!
Seymour, TN Seymour Siestas So far there are 2 of us but we are hoping for a 3rd to join us for our 2nd session.
Our first meeting was a little crazy, had 2 little ones & a house full other folks running around plus a little trouble with the video but we dug right in in spite of it all and are looking forward to getting deeper.
Blue Springs, MO; Girls Night Out, 6 of us, we meet in a family room of one of our houses on Monday nights. At our last meeting we caught up with each and talked about some of the passions and struggles we are all experiencing right now.
Topeka, KS; Someone suggested “The Devoted Ones” and someone else said “The Cookie Monsters” so we combined them and we are “The Devoted Cookie Monsters”. We had 9 at our first meeting at a classroom at a church. Highlights from our discussion included that we talked about how testimonies are not just verbal or written and a lively talk about oppression vs. authority.
The Chapel 3. The 3 of us come from Lake Villa, IL, Antioch, IL, and Kenosha, WI. We are meeting at a Panera Bread store. We are joining late, but the plan is to catch up by the third blog session. We talked mostly about what God might be putting on our hearts.
Secunda, South Africa, Going solo!! Call myself blessed, because of you.
So excited to see what’s waiting in Nehemia, can’t wait. All on my one I am going to make the recipes for the family!!!
Siloam, NC; Siloam Siestas, 2. Summary: How to trust God in times of trouble and to rely on Him in little daily things,not just the big things.
I’m going solo with this one. This will be my first bible study ever online or in person. Not sure what God has in store for me but am very excited to find out
Just reading about this being your first Bible study; thought I’d let you know i would be praying for you to hear from the Lord!
Writing from Woodstock NB. Currently solo. I can’t wait to learn more about Nehemiah!
Pembroke,NC;Lumbees living it out; there are 6 in our group, each representing a decade from 20-70. HOW AWESOME IS THAT!! We are a week behind you guys, but it works out well. The passage from Psalm 119 is our prayer before each day’s lesson, and it has grown within us in strength and power. Key discussion points were how we are often “MOVED” but not “BROKEN. Why is that? Also, if prayer is essential to anything of eternal significance, why do we so often neglect it?? So encouraging to share wisdom and life stories with such a diverse group.
I forgot to do this after our meeting a couple of weeks ago but better late than never!
Charlotte, NC; Ghana Rock Girls; There are 3 of us meeting regularly at my house. We are 17 and 18 years old and we named our group after a benefit concert we organized together with others. We gleaned alot from Kelly’s session 2 interview with her sister, Katie, on the necessity of repentence in order to experience the reality of God’s forgiveness and love and in order to be thereby enabled to serve others wholeheartedly.
There are two of us doing the study together..and we are late coming to the party! We are Joan and Vicki. Tonight we met at Joan’s house to view the first video and decide how we are going to do the homework and get together to discuss things and watch the videos. Tonight we met…late…at Joan’s house. A small town about 15 miles outside of Pittsburgh, PA. We watched the video in my living room, surrounded by the luggage and equipment my son is packing to prepare for his mission trip this coming Sunday. We are excited to be on this journey together and PROMISE to work to catch up to everyone!
Baltimore, MD Steph, going solo….Hi Beth! I am loving this study so far and am so excited to be joining women all over the country as we learn from God’s word through the prophet Nehemiah. I would love to be part of a group, but I am going through this study solo. Question 4 really resonated with me. I have 3 young sons and another baby on the way at the end of the summer. I have encountered some parenting struggles this summer that have had me feeling discouraged and defeated. I found encouragement and peace in inviting God to steady my steps and to let the peace of Christ reign in our house and in my heart. I also love the verses out of Psalm 119 and am using them as my personal prayer this summer. Looking forward to digging deeper into the Word with you and the other ladies!
Cincinnati, OH; The Gidgets; 7!
Spent a good amount of time catching up with each other and allowing time for new people to get to know everyone. Watched Kelly’s session 1 video, then watched Beth’s video. Then decided we would never get through all the questions in one night, so decided to do part of Beth’s questions, and save the rest for the next week.
For question #2, we all generally felt like this was a tough question to answer. Having testimony ready to share is sometimes uncomfortable, and sometimes challenging. Everyone agreed though that we just wanted to say to people, “Accept Jesus, it will be better. Life will be better. I can’t explain why. But it will just be better. Trust us. Even when it’s bad, IT WILL BE BETTER!”
Today, I went to the beach front with my kids. I found
a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is completely off topic but I had to tell someone!
Heather C. from Florence, SC: Going solo and coming to this party fashionably late (I hope that’s okay). This passage from Psalm 119 so deeply resonated with me and where I am with the Lord is this particular season. Questions 2 and 3 were real gut checks as I had to evaluate my motives and approach to my personal time with the Lord. This summer finds me stepping into a new job in full-time ministry. That’s where I need my steps steadied…I’ve been saying that I’m praying to get my ministry feet under me…honestly, I feel like I’m a little wobbly in my steps right now. I’m praying that the Lord will use this study to help me begin to grasp this calling He’s placed on my life and how I can accomplish that as His daughter.
Loretta, Gainesville, GA
Questions 4 and 5 resonated the most for me as I face challenges this summer and try not to let any iniquity have dominion over me.
24 studying this summer the Nehemiah study from Plymouth, Michigan at FPCP. We are the Women of the Word at FPCP. We are actually on week 3 using both Kelly’s DVDs and Beth’s blog. Did questions 4 & 5 from the blog this week.
Eastland, Texas I’m a sister going solo- I’ll be MTNest Sister meeting just me and God in my house. Signing in late as I’ve had a house full of company. Psalm 119:132 has captured my heart. “be gracious to me after Thy manner”. I actually feel lately like I might be the exception clause to God’s promises. I have no problem believing them and sharing them and defending them to others…..but doubt sometimes He’ll do those things for me. Asking God to show me His big old self, restore the joy of my salvation and give me an undivided heart to love Him more.
There are 19 of us from Huntsville, Texas. Signing in late, but God blessing our socks off with the Nehemiah study. We actually started on Tuesday, June 26th. I’ve led many women’s Bible studies and I was amazed as I sat and watched as the Holy Spirit worked through our group, where women shared, where women connected, and where women blessed each other. We used an icebreaker the first meeting that I got off of WomensMinistry.net. The question is “if you could own any kind of store anywhere in the world, what kind of store would it be, and where would it be located? It really gave us some insight about each woman. I hope to tie it into the question, “what has God put in your heart to do? Loving the study.
Mexico (too) kinda
Hey Beth, LPM and SIESTAS,
Listening to the 2nd vimeo where you give the stats and I’ve been following along through LPM ‘forever’- OK since I knew about SIESTA. I’m from MN but living down here in MEXICO for years. Going solo but not sure if you can count me… because Kelly’s book was not available as an ebook (for my Kindle for PC) since getting books here is so unreliable (mail) but I am reading Nehemiah and following your questions and also Bible Cafe.
The reason I’m finally adding myself back here in your registration is because I was hoping or wondering if you could please state on vimeo or in blog posts the portion of Nehemiah (like we’re READING Nehemiah chapters 1-4 for next week). You do so well in noting the pages and sharing but this would help me more. Thanks so much!
Also, I want to thank you so much and commend YOU and all the SIESTAS Big and Little Sisters who responded and still are responding to that post and one another. I check back often and pray for my little sisters… this post has to be one of the BEST: most beneficial and fruitful I’ve seen as the body of SIESTAS lift one another up and speak God’s Word! It is such a blessings as are YOU!
Vaya con Dios! Que Dios te (les) bendiga!
I really needed this study in Nehemiah and I loved the sample chapter I was able to download! Love to all!
Peggy
I just found out about this Bible Study. Is it too late to sign up?
Pam
DeLeon Springs, Florida
Helena, Montana – Bonnie – Going Solo
Question 3 had the most impact on me. Testimonies of God’s provision abound in our lives as we have relocated from our home in NY to Montana. God’s provision in meeting each need in such a timely way with our move – from finding a church, a home, school for our youngest, new friends. The evidence of God’s provision is super natural. “Provision: a measure taken beforehand to deal with a need” That’s what God does!
Beth in Candler, NC, going solo: #4 is huge for me right now. I returned from a two-week mission trip to Kenya at the end of May, and ever since I have been struggling with “What now?” I am a 38-year-old woman that has never traveled abroad until now. I KNOW God sent me to Africa for some reason. But, impatient me wants to know NOW, and apparently God isn’t ready to reveal that to me yet. Add in work frustrations and some financial distress, and I’ve got a recipe for disaster if God doesn’t steady my steps! I’m desperately trying to wait for God’s word to me, and charge ahead with something God hasn’t called me to do.
#7 is also huge–my heart-cry, really: Make Your face shine upon me Lord, and teach me Your ways, instead of me going on my own.
5 Friends from Hume, CA ‘Organic Friends’
We’re a small group that has been meeting together for over two years and we love being together! We are very excited to spend the next few weeks spurring one another on through this study.
We are seeking God to ‘steady our steps’ in areas of; trust, futures, encouraging our husbands, commitment to prayer, family issues, release, perspective, steadiness of truth, healing in marriages…
Thank you for this opportunity to study the Word of God with so many other women! What a blessing!!
Going solo. Magnolia, MS.
Have completed chapter 1 and realize that this study is a God thing. I didn’t realize how much this would be exactly what I need at this time until I got into it.
Minneapolis, MN; MBG; going solo, and starting late. I am a teacher and really wanted a daytime summer study with Beth. But I could not find one! So…on-line will be a new experience. My summer challenge is always living with an unstructured schedule after the discipline needed during the school year. So I want to use my time wisely and not waste it!
Looking foward to focusing on Nehemiah!
MB
Welcome and Hey MN sister in Christ MBG,
I’m from MN, a teacher and going solo too! The problem is I’m in Mexico, or I’d love to get together with you. Hope you can get the book and catch up! Nehemiah’s a great REBUILDER book. Too bad that you could not find any Beth Moore study in the area during the summer but this online SIESTA time is wonderful! Welcome aboard! ENJOY!
Love seeing MN SIESTA’s! Glad you found the online study!
Blessings,
Peggy
Auburn NY….6 girls meeting once a week in my diningroom.
Ronee Y: Branson Missouri Going solo
Shelley – going solo – and obviously a little behind.
Questions 3, 5 & 6 resonated with me most. GOD has shown himself amazingly gracious to me, always. Yet, I still tend to expect indifference or rejection.
Let no iniquity have dominion over me – I can be so lazy about seeking after the LORD. I want to seek Him more actively!
My prayer for this year has been for my life – my relationship with GOD – to be integrated, intentional and intimate
Mount Vernon WA..going solo
Asking GOD to steady my steps,trust in his faithfulness and to repair my broken walls. And to long for his Word.
Egenhausen, Germany; Egenhausen Siestas/ 2: Meeting in my small Bavarian Village home out back at a quaint bistro table for 2, overlooking pretty fruit trees & farmlands 🙂
3- Gods graciousness and whether we really are believing Him to be gracious, not just withstanding of us.
5- What has the potential to have dominion over us, specifically our soldier hubbies deployment.
Clarkston, Michigan. We have a group of 10 women that are meeting to do the summer study at a participants home. Between the 10 of us we have a bunch of kids ranging in age from 18 months to 13. Our older girls are doing a study at the same time as we are called “Girl Talk, the Power of Our Words”. This is the first time they have done a study like this. All the older kids are helping watch the younger kids. For the first session, we all talked about the challenges of having all of our children home for the summer and the challenges of being Godly moms.
I realize I’m coming in a bit late, but I didn’t see the Bible study post until the second session and didn’t get my book until this past week.
Kellee O. chiming in solo from Burlington, CO. I am using the NIV.
1. List every term the psalmist uses for God’s communication/revelation to man. (Example: V.129 ESV – “testimonies”)
Statutes, words, commands, direct, word, precepts, decrees
2. Psalm 119:129 says, “Your testimonies are wonderful: therefore my soul keeps them.” Each of you (as time allows) share a specific way that you’ve come to know personally that God’s testimonies are “wonderful.”
I’ve come to know that God’s testimonies/statutes are wonderful by the way my life goes when I’m living according to them vs. not living according to them. When I am following the Lord and living according to His statutes, I have a better attitude, I’m calmer, and I’m much more positive. When I haven’t spend time in the Word or praying, I have a much stronger tendency to freakout, overanalyze, and behave irrationally. Basically, God keeps me sane.
3. Psalm 119:132 says “Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is Your way with those who love Your name.” If you have placed your faith in God through Jesus Christ, you have demonstrated one titanic way of “loving His name.” Discuss the importance of trusting that God’s “way” is to deal with His children graciously.
The importance of trusting that God’s way is to deal with us graciously is that the way we expect to be dealt with is really what defines the relationship. If we expect Him to be harsh or cruel, we will react and communicate with Him much differently than if we were to expect to be dealt with with love, grace, and mercy. I am much more willing to open up, communicate, and be intimately involved with someone who treats me with mercy and grace than someone who is harsh and cruel.
4. Psalm 119:133a says, “Keep steady my steps according to Your promise.” What specific challenges are before you this summer that could cause you to really need God to “steady your steps”?
I’m waiting for my husband to get accepted into the Air Force and be shipped out to basic. I’m really going to need God’s help being patient and trusting His timing for our lives.
5. Psalm 119:133b says, “Let no iniquity get dominion over me.” THAT, Beloved, is a prayer that could have huge impact in our lives. If you are willing, share a particular tendency of your flesh that you’re really praying will not get the best of you this summer.
I’ve had a temper all my life. I learned it from my dad, who learned it from his dad, and so on. I have seen dramatic changes in my life, reactions, and heart from following God’s way, but I would love to be free from being so angry all the time. I will be praying that God let no anger rule over me, but instead all the fruit of the Spirit.
6. Psalm 119:134 says, “Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep Your precepts.” Look up several definitions of “oppression” and discuss the vital differences between oppression and authority. How can they be confused?
Google defines oppression as “prolonged cruel treatment.” It also defines authority as “the power or right to give orders.” Oppression has an emotion behind it – it is cruel, harsh, demanding, greedy. Authority is someone recognizing that another person (i.e. the president or God) has the right to give directions and commands, and they will typically be in our best interest.
Port St. Lucie, FL and I’m going this study alone
Stoughton, WI and going solo. Really looking forward to this even though I am late signing up. My summer challenge is finding my quiet time with the Lord with 3 kids home…